Enterococcus faecium
When facing adversaries, having an ally who can supply you with good ammunition is really helpful, such as the probiotic, Enterococcus faecium. But, what’s truly mind-blowing is how closely related this ally is to pathogenic species - Allison Tannis MSc
HWN Suggests
Enterococcus faecium: A Probiotic that Sparks the Importance of Safety Testing
You’ll commonly find Enterococcus faecium in the gut of humans and animals. It’s well suited to survive the digestive process and flourish in the gut. Enterococci were first discovered in human poop in 1899. However, it’s a fun fact that until 1984, they were still considered part of the genus Streptococci. There are two distinct subpopulations of Enterococcus faecium: The first subpopulation represents commensals (normal residents) of the gastrointestinal tract and is usually not involved in clinical infection, while the second subpopulation is.
Articles of Interest
Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354: Tempest in a Teapot or Serious Foodborne Pathogen?
Illnesses from Enterococcus species are significant sources of community- and hospital-acquired infections—in debilitated individuals, for example, those with underlying disease or who have received medical instrumentationm...
Enterococcus faecium: A Healthy Probiotic Strain
One of the major benefits of including Enterococcus faecium in probiotic formulas is that it’s uniquely suited to survive the digestive process and flourish in the gut. Somewhat ironically, Enterococcus faecium is added to livestock feed instead of pharmaceutical antibiotics as an antibiotic substitute to promote wellness in animals. Like other probiotics, Enterococcus faecium promotes a balanced gut environment by competing for resources that harmful organisms would otherwise consume and use to grow, possibly leading to illness.
Enterococcus faecium: from microbiological insights to practical recommendations for infection control and diagnostics
Early in its evolution, Enterococcus faecium acquired traits that allowed it to become a successful nosocomial pathogen. E. faecium inherent tenacity to build resistance to antibiotics and environmental stressors that allows the species to thrive in hospital environments. The continual wide use of antibiotics in medicine has been an important driver in the evolution of E. faecium becoming a highly proficient hospital pathogen.
Enterococcus faecium: from microbiological insights to practical recommendations for infection control and diagnostics
Early in its evolution, Enterococcus faecium acquired traits that allowed it to become a successful nosocomial pathogen. E. faecium inherent tenacity to build resistance to antibiotics and environmental stressors that allows the species to thrive in hospital environments. The continual wide use of antibiotics in medicine has been an important driver in the evolution of E. faecium becoming a highly proficient hospital pathogen.
Enterococcus faecium: from microbiological insights to practical recommendations for infection control and diagnostics
Early in its evolution, Enterococcus faecium acquired traits that allowed it to become a successful nosocomial pathogen. E. faecium inherent tenacity to build resistance to antibiotics and environmental stressors that allows the species to thrive in hospital environments. The continual wide use of antibiotics in medicine has been an important driver in the evolution of E. faecium becoming a highly proficient hospital pathogen.
The Genus Enterococcus: Between Probiotic Potential and Safety Concerns—An Update
A considerable number of strains belonging to different species of Enterococcus are highly competitive due to their resistance to wide range of pH and temperature. Their competitiveness is also owed to their ability to produce bacteriocins recognized for their wide-range effectiveness on pathogenic and spoilage bacteria.
Resources
Enterococcus Faecium
For many years, E. faecium has been regarded as a symbiotic bacterium of the digestive tract, which only occasionally causes opportunistic infection in severely ill patients. However, there is more and more evidence that some strains of E. faecium may be pathogenic, harmful to humans, and may cause bacteremia, endocarditis, urinary tract infection, and other infections.
